On tap at the Great Taste 8/10/13- titled Napa County Stout. Got about a 4oz pour; this is not sufficient for a true review but is rather more for my personal notations. Still, I think I understand the essence of this beer..

Basically looks like Bourbon County Stout. It's still pitch black, thick bodied and pours with a small brown head that disappears in record time, leaving nothing but a deep black liquid. It smells and indeed, tastes strongly of oak tannins and bitter grape- in other words, red wine with a steroidal tannin disposition. The malt backbone on this beer (aka the base stout) is really not noticeable in either the nose or on the palate. My guess is that this was Cook County Stout aged in red wine barrels. I know the description says otherwise but I don't get any actual BCBS flavour in this at all. The mouthfeel is very slick, thick and viscous like a good Bourbon County Stout, yet the aftertaste feels just like an acidic, tanninic mouthful of red wine. There is absolutely no carbonation here.

Overall, it is such a confusing experience as this beer tastes like wine and is fully uncarbonated, yet it has the appearance and thick mouthfeel of a big imperial stout. I enjoyed it and had no problem finishing this pour before heading off to the next tent; it is certainly a very good beer experiment. Props to Goose Island for having the stones to try this one.